The National Parks Association of NSW (NPA) has warmly welcomed a 57,000 hectare addition to NSW’s reserve network. The new park, purchased by the Mutawintji Board of Management, joins Mutawintji Nature Reserve, National Park and Historic Site to create a complex of conservation lands of over 132,000 hectares.
Gary Dunnett, Executive Officer of NPA said “this is an immensely satisfying outcome on so many levels.
“The Mutawintji Board of Management’s decision to add lands they’ve purchased to the reserve system is a ringing endorsement of the Indigenous ownership model for parks.
“The large scale and high degree of connectivity of the expanded conservation complex will help ensure that populations of native species—including the threatened yellow-footed rock wallaby—can thrive in the long term.
“This new reserve is located in a bioregion[1] called the Broken Hill Complex that had, until today, the lowest proportion of land protected of any of NSW’s 18 bioregions. This reservation boosts the area protected from 2% to 3.5%. While short of Australia’s international commitments of 17% protection per bioregion, it’s a big step in the right direction.
“And of course, this is highly significant because it hopefully signals a much-needed acceleration in national park creation under the Berejiklian government. Minister Kean committed this month[2] to reserving 200,000 hectares in two years, and he’s out of the blocks quickly with Mutawintji.
“We look forward to working with Minster Kean on more fantastic additions to the reserve network.”
ENDS.
MEDIA CONTACT: Gary Dunnett | 02 9299 0000
[1]Bioregions are areas that possess broadly similar climate, geology, landforms and native vegetation. See https://www.environment.gov.au/land/nrs/science/ibra for more information.
[2]https://www.smh.com.au/environment/conservation/nsw-minister-proposes-10-fold-increase-in-national-park-creation-rate-20190818-p52ibi.html